Munson Healthcare Donates $300,000 to Traverse Health Clinic to Expand Street Medicine Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2024
 
Munson Healthcare Donates $300,000 to Traverse Health Clinic to Expand Street Medicine Program
Munson continues support of joint program with Traverse Health Clinic and Goodwill Northern Michigan with upgraded equipment, medicine and hiring of community coordinator
 

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Munson Healthcare (MHC) announced this week it has made a commitment to donate $300,000 to Traverse Health Clinic over the next two years to support expansion of the Street Medicine Program in Traverse City.
 
"This is an exciting day for Traverse Health Clinic and our partners,” said Casey Kandow, Chief Executive Officer, Traverse Health Clinic. “Munson’s commitment in joining us to alleviate human suffering and help provide our unhoused population these critical healthcare services will only build upon the momentum and reach of this important program.”
 
This donation will help expand access for patients experiencing homelessness and complete accessibility upgrades to Traverse Health Clinic’s mobile medical unit, where clinic staff and the TC Street Medicine team have served over 1000 people since it started during the pandemic. These funds also provide the opportunity to hire a full-time community coordinator position dedicated to supporting comprehensive wraparound services and managing operational costs for the program.
 
“Those in our Northern Michigan communities experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable to significant illness or chronic health issues,” said Ed Ness, President and CEO, Munson Healthcare. “As we see these numbers continue to grow in our community and in our emergency rooms, Munson Healthcare is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need including preventative care.”
 
The Street Medicine Program is a community collaboration where Traverse Health Clinic and Munson Healthcare work alongside Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Street Outreach team to connect with people experiencing homelessness wherever they are and provide medical care – in neighborhoods, at churches, on the streets or in the region’s woods. The Street Medicine team provides access to immunizations, supports chronic disease management, provides mental health and substance use care, distributes hygiene products and offers prenatal care as well as connecting those who are unhoused to appropriate housing resources.
 
"Munson Healthcare’s generous donation will have a positive impact on every part of our work to end homelessness,” said Ryan Hannon, Goodwill Northern Michigan’s Community Engagement Officer. "Homelessness is a serious attack on your health. Our goal is to help people move on from these circumstances into a safe place to call home, to heal, and to have long-term housing success."
 
The Street Medicine healthcare professionals see hundreds of patients on Tuesdays and Fridays each week year-round, which contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of the community by minimizing severe health issues, reducing the strain on emergency departments, improving public safety, reducing health disparities, and promoting equity.
 
Learn more about the Street Medicine collaboration at www.munsonhealthcare.org/communitycommitment
 
 
About Munson Healthcare
Rated by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top 15 Health Systems in the nation, Munson Healthcare is non-profit health system serving over 500,000 residents across Northern Michigan. As the largest healthcare organization in the region, MHC serves its communities through primary care and specialty clinics, urgent cares, outpatient imaging, lab, and surgical facilities, five community hospitals, and three regional hospitals including Munson Medical Center that is home to Cowell Family Cancer Center, Munson Orthopedic Institute, Traverse Heart and Vascular, and The Witham Family Comprehensive Stroke Center. Learn more at munsonhealthcare.org.
 
About Traverse Health Clinic
Traverse Health Clinics is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC), offering high quality, comprehensive health care services. Learn more at traversehealthclinic.org.
 
About Goodwill Northern Michigan
Goodwill Northern Michigan is a community-owned nonprofit with food and housing community programs — including Food Rescue, Street Outreach, the Goodwill Inn, Supportive Housing, Good Meals, Patriot Place, and Good Partner Vouchers — that serve a 19-county region from Wexford to Cheboygan. Learn more at goodwillnmi.org.

   
CONTACT:
Ashlee Bartleson                                                                    
Senior Corporate Communications Specialist                    
Munson Healthcare                                                               
231-318-9731 (media pager)                                    
231-935-7964 (voicemail)                 
abartleson@mhc.net